I closed the door to Grace’s room, the heavy wood sealing her inside as if locking away a dangerous secret. As I walked down the hallway, the echo of my footsteps was a constant reminder of the conversation that had just taken place. Grace was no fool. She asked the right questions, the kind that cut through the bullshit and got to the heart of the matter. That fire in her eyes, that defiance, was both a challenge and a temptation. She wasn’t broken yet, and I couldn’t decide if that was a blessing or a curse.
When I reached my office, I found Gavino already there, sprawled out in one of my leather chairs like he owned the place. The cigar clenched between his teeth filled the room with thick, acrid smoke. His face was twisted in that familiar expression of impatience and arrogance.
"Mar
